Perfume diffuser

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a perfume diffuser comprising: a first conducting element arranged to receive part of the heat generated by the heat source, and to transmit by heat conduction the heat received; a second conducting element separated from the first element and arranged to be in contact with the perfumed substance; a third heat conducting element connected to the first conducting element and to the second conducting element so as to communicate by thermal conduction to the second element the heat transmitted by the first conducting element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a perfume diffuser and a system fordiffusing a perfume including a perfume diffuser in accordance with thepresent invention.

In what follows, the diffusion of a perfume covers both the evaporationof a perfume or a perfumed substance in the form of a liquid or gel andthe sublimation of a perfume or a perfumed substance in the form of asolid.

The perfume burner is a prior art perfume evaporator adapted tocooperate with a source of heat and with means adapted to receive or toconstitute a container containing a substance adapted to diffuse aperfume on evaporating or sublimating, the diffuser and these meansbeing adapted to transmit to said substance a portion of the heatproduced by said source.

In a conventional configuration of the perfume burner, the source ofheat is a small candle which is placed under the container, whichgenerally contains a liquid adapted to evaporate a perfume, and whichheats the container to heat said substance so that it evaporates.

The above perfume burner has a number of disadvantages. Variation of thedistance between the flame and the perfume makes it impossible to adjustthe temperature of the substance adapted to diffuse said perfume duringuse of the perfume burner. More particularly, it is very difficult tomaintain the temperature of this substance in the temperature range fromapproximately 40° C. to approximately 65° C., which is the idealtemperature range for diffusing a perfume. The difficulty of adjustingthe temperature of the substance makes it difficult to adjust the speedof diffusion of the perfume. The temperature reached during evaporationof the perfumed substance is above 65° C., which limits the choice ofperfumes and reduces their olfactory quality. The capacity of thereservoir containing the perfumed substance is limited and obliges theuser to refill it frequently to obtain continuous operation over severalhours (the life of a candle, for example).

The whole of the perfume burner is heated, and this can producesensations of burns.

It is not always easy to obtain access to the place for the candle.

What is more, given that the candle must be placed under the containercontaining the substance, the flame of the candle is largely invisibleand is therefore difficult to use to create a warm and peacefulambience, like an ordinary candle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of prior artperfume diffusers and to propose a perfume diffuser of theaforementioned type which is simple and economical, which achieves arelatively regular speed of diffusion of the perfume and which, if aflame is used as the heat source, makes the flame clearly visible.

The above perfume diffuser must additionally be capable of beingintegrated into all types and styles of systems for diffusing a perfumewithout risk of burns.

In accordance with the invention, the perfume diffuser of theaforementioned type is characterized in that it includes:

a first heat conducting element adapted to receive a portion of the heatproduced by said source of heat and to transmit the heat received bythermal conduction;

a second heat conducting element separated from the first element andadapted to be in contact with said substance; and

a third heat conducting element connected to the first conductingelement and to the second conducting element so as to communicate theheat transmitted by the first conducting element to the secondconducting element by thermal conduction;

the first and/or third conducting elements being thermally insulatedover at least a portion of their outside surface, if necessary.

The presence of the three heat conducting elements enables separateadjustment of the heat received by the first conducting element, theheat transmitted from the first conducting element to the thirdconducting element and finally the heat transmitted by the firstconducting element to the substance adapted to diffuse a perfume.

It is therefore possible to design these three heat conducting elementsin a manner that achieves a substantially constant temperature of thesubstance adapted to diffuse the perfume.

If the source of heat is a flame, the perfume diffuser enables the flameto be positioned so that it is visible.

Finally, the presence of the three heat conducting elements does notimpose any limitation on the types and styles of the perfume diffuser orthe perfume diffusing system including it.

In an advantageous version of the invention, the heat conductingelements are adapted and dimensioned to transmit to the substance bythermal conduction a flow of heat sufficient to heat said substance to asubstantially constant temperature in the range from approximately 40°C. to approximately 65° C.

In this way it is possible to achieve a speed of diffusion and anintensity of the perfume that are substantially constant and whichcorrespond to the requirements of users.

A perfume diffuser of the above kind perfumes the environment bysublimation or evaporation of a perfume or a perfumed substance (liquid,solid or gel) using a thermally conducting system forming an integralpart of the perfume or perfumed substance. In order to operate, thisthermal system necessitates the use of a flame or other sources of heatand transmits a predetermined quantity of heat to the perfumed substanceby thermal conduction that is sufficient for the latter to evaporate orsublimate with a relatively regular speed of diffusion. The capacity ofthe reservoir is preferably sufficient to enable continuous operationfor several hours (for example, the life of a candle), without obligingthe user to refill it frequently. The range of temperature used enablesperfumes to be chosen from a wide range of fragrant substances,including the lightest ones, which evaporate at the lowest temperatures,from 40° C., without any limitation being created by insufficientcontrol of the temperature of the substance to be diffused.

In a preferred version of the invention, the third conducting elementhas a transverse dimension that increases in the direction towards thesecond element at least in the portion of said element which is incontact with the perfumed substance.

As the substance adapted to diffuse the perfume is used up, the lengthof the portion of said element that is in contact with the substancedecreases and its width increases. This maintains a substantiallyconstant ratio between the area of thermal exchange between the secondand third heat conducting elements, on the one hand, and the volume ofthe substance adapted to diffuse the perfume, to maintain sufficientheat input to maintain a substantially constant temperature of saidsubstance and a substantially constant state of diffusion of theperfume.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system fordiffusing a perfume in accordance with the invention, including a heatsource and a container containing a substance adapted to diffuse aperfume on evaporating or sublimating, is characterized in that itincludes a perfume diffuser in accordance with the first version of thepresent invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of non-limitingexample only:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation view showing the structure of asystem for diffusing a perfume in accordance with the second aspect ofthe invention, comprising a perfume diffuser in accordance with oneembodiment of the first aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment of the perfume diffuser shown in FIG.1 in elevation and in section taken along the line II--II in FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 is a view of the perfume diffuser from FIG. 2 as seen from theleft in that figure;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the perfume diffuser from FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram representing two variants of the system from FIG. 1;and

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the evolution with time of the diffusion ofa perfume for a system for diffusing a perfume or a perfumed substanceand a perfume diffuser in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the system 1 fordiffusing a perfume or a perfumed substance includes a heat source 2 anda container 3 containing a substance 4 adapted to diffuse a perfume onevaporating or sublimating.

The heat source 2 is conventionally a small candle comprising acombustible product 5 and a wick 6 adapted to become impregnated withthe combustible product 5, for example. When the candle 2 is lit, itproduces a flame 7 which gives off heat.

The container 3 is a container of any shape, made of any substance andadapted to contain the substance 4 and to withstand the temperature towhich the substance is heated.

The substance 4 adapted to diffuse a perfume on evaporating orsublimating is any substance known per se in the form of a liquid, solidor gel. To eliminate all risk of fire, the substance 4 is usually anaqueous substance in liquid, solid or gel form containing a perfumedsubstance adapted to be diffused when the substance 4 evaporates orsublimates.

The system 1 includes an embodiment of a perfume diffuser 8 inaccordance with the invention shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the perfume diffuser 8 isadapted to cooperate with a heat source 2 and with means adapted toreceive or to constitute a container 3 containing a substance 4 adaptedto diffuse a perfume on evaporating or sublimating. The diffuser 8 andthe aforementioned means are adapted to transmit to the substance 4 aportion of the heat produced by the heat source 2.

In accordance with the present invention, the perfume diffuser 8includes:

a first heat conducting element 9, possibly with its outside surfacethermally insulated, adapted to receive a portion of the heat producedby said source 2 of heat and to transmit the heat received by thermalconduction;

a second heat conducting element 10 separated from the first element 9and adapted to be in contact with said substance 4;

a third heat conducting element 11, possibly with its outside surfacethermally insulated from the tongue 9 and over substantially all of itsheight exposed to the air (see below), connected to the first conductingelement 9 and to the second conducting element 10 so as to communicatethe heat transmitted by the first conducting element 9 to the secondconducting element 10 by thermal conduction.

The heat conducting elements 9, 10, 11 are adapted and dimensioned totransmit a sufficient flow of heat to the substance 4 by thermalconduction to heat said substance 4 to a substantially constanttemperature in the range from approximately 400° C. to approximately 65°C.

The temperature range from approximately 40° C. to approximately 65° C.is known to be the ideal range for diffusing a perfume.

As shown in the figures, the three heat conducting elements 9, 10, 11are made in one piece, the perfume diffuser 8 being made principally ofa metal that is a good conductor of heat and resistant to thetemperature created by the source 2, for example aluminum, copper or anyother suitable metal. Other embodiments are possible.

In the example shown, the perfume diffuser 8 is made from sheet metalcut and bent to shape, for example from sheet aluminum or copperapproximately 1 mm thick. The diffuser 8 could be molded or cast orpressed.

In the example shown, the perfume diffuser 8 is adapted to cooperatewith a heat source 2 consisting of a flame 7, for example the flame 7 ofa candle.

The first heat conducting element 9 is a metal tongue 9 inclined to thedirection of the flame 7, i.e. the vertical direction, and possiblytouching the end of the flame 7 when the diffuser 8 is operating. Thetongue 9 is therefore at the top of the diffuser 8.

The tongue 9 is preferably formed so that its inclination relative tothe direction of the flame 7 is adjustable (see below).

More generally, the perfume diffuser 8 includes means, described indetail hereinafter, for modifying the distance between the tongue 9 andthe flame 7 in order to adjust the speed of diffusion of the perfume.

The second heat conducting element 10 is adapted to be embedded in thesubstance 4 and the third conducting element 11 has a portion 12adjacent the second conducting element 10 also adapted to be embedded inthe substance 4.

The second heat conducting element 10 covers substantially all of thesurface of the bottom 13 of the container 3 containing the substance 4(see FIG. 1).

The second heat conducting element 10 rests on the bottom 13 of thecontainer 3 containing the substance 4, either directly or via spacers14 that hold it at a distance from said bottom 13 to increasess the areaof thermal exchange between the second conducting element 10 and thesubstance 4.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 the second element 10 has asubstantially circular shape that is easily inscribed within the crosssection of the container 3, which can have any shape. It is at thebottom of the diffuser 8.

Said element 11 has a transverse dimension that increases in thedirection towards the second element 10, at least in the portion 12 ofthe third conducting element 11 which is adapted to be in contact withthe substance 4.

In the example shown, the third conducting element 11 serves as anupright for supporting the tongue 9, which is linked to the upright 11by the bend 15 and the tray 16 adapted to support the candle 2 or otherheat source under the tongue 9.

The tray 16 is adjustably fixed to the upright 11 by means of a bolt 17passing through a vertical longitudinal slot 18 in the upright 11, awasher 19 being inserted between the head of the bolt 17 opposite thetray 16 and the upright 11.

Initial experiments by the Applicant show that it would appear to bevery important for at least the portion 12 of the upright 11 adjacentthe second conducting element 10 to have a transverse dimension thatwidens in the direction towards the second element 10. This increasesthe ratio between the total area of thermal exchange between thediffuser 8 and the substance 4, on the one hand, and the residual heightof the substance 4 in the container 3, and thus the residual volume ofthe substance 4 in said container 3, on the other hand. This achieves asubstantially constant speed of diffusion of the perfume despite theprogressive disappearance of the substance 4 and the reduction in itslevel and the volume.

For this reason, the upright 11 can have a regular trapezoidal shape, asshown in FIG. 3. The lower part 12 of the upright 11 adapted to dip intothe substance 4 can also have lateral wings 20, shown diagrammaticallyin dashed outline in FIGS. 3 and 4, which can have any shape andorientation and which can lie either in the plane of the upright 11 oralong a curved surface shown diagrammatically in the bottom part of FIG.4, for example.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the candle 2 placed on a tripod 21resting directly under the second element 10 is shown in continuousline: the candle 2 is therefore above the second element 10 and belowthe tongue 9, without being supported by the upright 11. This figurealso shows in dashed outline a variant in which the candle 2 issupported by a support 22 cantilevered from the container 3, the tongue9 being bent towards the exterior of the container so that it lies abovethe support 22.

To adjust the distance between the tongue 9 and the heat source 2, 7,for example to allow for the reducing height of a candle 5 as it burnsdown, the angle of the tongue 9 relative to the upright 11 can beadjusted by bending the tongue 9 towards the flame 7 at the bend 15. Itis bent in the opposite direction when replacing a spent candle with anew one.

Means can equally be provided with the tongue 9 causing it to bendautomatically towards the flame 7 when the temperature of the tongue 9falls. Thus the tongue 9 can be associated with an auxiliary tongue 23welded at its ends to the tongue 9 to constitute a bimetallic strip, theposition and the nature of the metal of the tongue 23 being chosen toachieve the required result, a device of this kind operating in bothdirections.

Accordingly, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the tongue 23a can beplaced under the tongue 9 if it is made of a metal that contracts fasterthan the metal of the tongue 9 as the temperature falls. A tongue 23b ofa metal contracting slower than that of the tongue 9 would be situatedon top of the latter.

As an alternative, the upright 11 can be designed with a bimetallicstrip structure in order to move the tongue 9 relative to the flame 7.

The tongue 9 and the upright 11 are thermally insulated over at least aportion of their outside surface to limit heat losses by radiation fromthe diffuser 8 and to communicate to the base 10 and to the perfumedsubstance 4 a maximum proportion of the quantity of heat received by thetongue 9.

The outside surface of the tongue 9 opposite the flame 7 is coated witha thermally insulative coating 24 in the example shown.

Similarly, at least the outside face of the upright 11 is coated with aninsulative coating 24, substantially above the level of the tray 16. Inthis way, the bottom part 12 likely to come into contact with theperfumed substance 4 remains bare to allow optimum thermal exchange withthe latter.

Of course, the coating 24 can also be designed as a decorative coatingor covered with a decorative coating of any kind.

A perfume diffuser has therefore been described with has an extremelysimple and therefore very economical structure which lends itself to allpossible embodiments; if the heat source is a flame, for example acandle flame, the perfume diffuser 8 enables the flame to be seen sothat the flame contributes to creating a warm atmosphere, especiallyafter dark. The diffuser receives heat energy at the temperature of theflame via the tongue 9 and transmits to the perfumed substance 4 heatenergy at a substantially lower temperature, in the required range fromapproximately 40° C. to approximately 65° C.

Surprisingly, the perfume diffuser in accordance with the inventionachieves a relatively constant speed of diffusion of perfume byevaporation. This is seen in FIG. 6 which represents a curve of theevolution of the diffusion of a perfume during a test carried out underthe conditions specified below. The test lasted approximately 51 hoursand gave the following results:

    ______________________________________                                                                 Average hourly                                       Duration of use of                                                                           Total loss of                                                                           consumption of                                       system (h)     perfume (g)                                                                             perfume (g/h)                                        ______________________________________                                        3              2.84      0.95                                                 7              7.3       1.04                                                 10.8           11.31     1.05                                                 14.5           15.35     1.06                                                 18.3           18.76     1.02                                                 22.3           23.1      1.04                                                 26.5           27.72     1.05                                                 30.5           34.01     1.12                                                 34.7           37.61     1.09                                                 39.7           42.06     1.06                                                 43.4           46.59     1.07                                                 47.2           49.7      1.05                                                 50.9           53.5      1.05                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The tests were carried out with a system as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and adiffuser approximately 8 cm high, the heat source being a candle.

The total loss of perfume is the total loss of weight at time t from thestart of the experiment and corresponds to the lefthand scale in FIG. 6.

The average hourly consumption is the total loss of perfume at time tdivided by the number of hours since the start of the experiment andcorresponds to the righthand scale in FIG. 6.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments justas described, to which many changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the field of the invention.

In particular, the flame described can be replaced by any other heatsource. Thus a magnifying glass can be used to concentrate the rays ofthe sun to heat the conducting tongue 9, or a source of infraredradiation can be used for this purpose. The heat source 2 can be placedin any position relative to the substance 4.

Of course, the quantity of heat transmitted by conduction to theperfumed substance is not strictly equal to the quantity of heatreceived by the first conducting element, given that losses occur byconduction, radiation and convection from the various conductingelements. These losses can vary as a function of parameters of theatmosphere in which the diffuser is installed, the temperature, therelative humidity, the degree of agitation of the surrounding air. Theselosses also vary as the area of contact between the conducting elementsand the perfumed substance varies as said substance is used up.

The heat source can of course be placed on a support independent of theconducting elements to provide more than one heat source associated withone or more sets of conducting magnets.

The second conducting element adapted to be in contact with the perfumedsubstance can have any shape compatible with its function. Inparticular, the two wings 20 can have substantially the shape of twosemi-cylinders with the same axis and a predetermined diameter so thatthe wings bear elastically against the walls of the container containingthe perfumed substance and provide a large area of thermal exchange withsaid substance, if necessary in association with a bottom element 10,the bottom of the container having any non-plane shape.

The burning conducting elements can advantageously be protected by aninsulative substance, in particular of the porous ceramic type; they canbe embedded in a substance of this kind, for example, or surrounded by asheath of such a substance.

The combination of the first, second and third conducting elements canhave a more or less stylized general shape in elevation, for example theshape of a numeral, such as 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 or 9 or a letter, such as A,B, C, E, G, O or θ, P, R, S, Z, d, b, a. The heat source can if requiredbe deposited on a horizontal part of the shape or added thereto. Inparticular, by virtue of the oblique transverse bar, the Z shape offersan exchange area that decreases relatively little as the height of theperfumed substance decreases.

Most of the shapes mentioned above can be obtained by cutting andbending sheet metal.

It is also possible to form and stamp sheet metal on a press. Thus in avariant of the two semi-cylindrical wings described above, the secondconducting element can be designed as a substantially cylindricalcontainer adapted to contain the perfumed substance directly andfabricated on a press, the first and second conducting elements inaccordance with the present invention being associated in any mannerwith this container, preferably being in one piece with it.

The container obtained in this way, which of itself provides all thetechnical functions of the perfume diffuser in accordance with thepresent invention, is adapted to be introduced into an enclosure or acontainer of any shape which can be designed in accordance withessentially economic and esthetic criteria.

The diffuser can equally be made by molding or casting any appropriatesubstance.

The diffuser of the invention can also be made from substances which area good conductor of heat other than metals, for example glass or anyother substance, especially a vitreous substance, resistant to thetemperature of the flame or heat source. The dimensions of the variousconducting elements forming the diffuser are then such that they fulfilthe functions described hereinabove for the diffuser, and in particularcommunicate to the perfumed substance the quantity of heat necessary toheat it to the required temperature.

What is claimed is:
 1. A perfume diffuser adapted to cooperate with asource of heat and with means for receiving or constituting a containerfor a perfumed substance adapted to diffuse a perfume upon evaporationor sublimation, the diffuser and said means transmitting to saidperfumed substance a portion of the heat produced by said heat source,said diffuser comprising:a first heat conducting element separated fromand at a distance from said means, said first heat conducting elementreceiving a portion of the heat produced by said heat source andtransmitting a portion of the heat received by thermal conduction; asecond heat conducting element separated from and at a distance from thefirst heat conducting element, said second heat conducting element beingin contact with said perfumed substance; a third heat conducting elementconnected to the first heat conducting element and to the second heatconducting element, said third heat conducting element communicating aportion of the heat transmitted by the first heat conducting element tothe second heat conducting element by thermal conduction; the first andthird heat conducting elements each having an outside surface, and atleast one of the first and third heat conducting elements beingoptionally thermally insulated over at least a portion of its outsidesurface; and the perfumed substance receiving only heat received fromthe heat source by the first heat conducting element and transmitted bythermal conduction by said first heat conducting element to the thirdheat conducting element and then by said third heat conducting elementto the second heat conducting element.
 2. A perfume diffuser accordingto claim 1 wherein the first, second and third heat conducting elementsare adapted and dimensioned to transmit to the perfumed substance bythermal conduction a flow of heat sufficient to heat said perfumedsubstance to a substantially constant temperature in the range fromapproximately 40° C. to approximately 65° C.
 3. A perfume diffuseraccording to claim 1 wherein the first, second and third heat conductingelements are made in one piece.
 4. A perfume diffuser according to claim1 wherein said diffuser is made principally of a metal that is a goodconductor of heat and resistant to the temperature created by the heatsource.
 5. A perfume diffuser according to claim 4 wherein said metal isselected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper.
 6. A perfumediffuser according to claim 1 wherein said heat source consists of aflame and wherein said diffuser cooperates with said heat source and ischaracterized in that the first heat conducting element comprises atongue inclined to the direction of the flame.
 7. A perfume diffuseraccording to claim 6 wherein said tongue touches an end of said flamewhen the diffuser is operating.
 8. A perfume diffuser according to claim6 wherein the inclination of the tongue relative to the direction of theflame is adjustable.
 9. A perfume diffuser according to claim 6 furthercomprising means for modifying the distance between the tongue and theflame.
 10. A perfume diffuser according to claim 9 wherein saidmodifying means comprises a bimetallic strip.
 11. A perfume diffuseraccording to claim 6 wherein the second heat conducting element isembedded in the perfumed substance and the third conducting element hasa portion adjacent the second conducting element which is also embeddedin said perfumed substance.
 12. A perfume diffuser according to claim 11wherein the second heat conducting element extends over substantiallyall of a bottom surface of the container containing the perfumedsubstance.
 13. A perfume diffuser according to claim 11 characterized inthat the second heat conducting element rests on spacers on a bottom ofthe container containing the perfumed substance which spacers hold saidsecond heat conducting element at a distance from said bottom.
 14. Aperfume diffuser according to claim 11 further comprising at least theportion of the third heat conducting element which is in contact withthe perfumed substance has a transverse dimension that increases in adirection toward the second heat conducting element.
 15. A system fordiffusing a perfume including a heat source, a container containing aperfumed substance adapted to diffuse a perfume on evaporating orsublimating, and a perfume diffuser, said perfume diffuser includingfirst heat conducting element separated from and at a distance from saidmeans, said first heat conducting element receiving a portion of theheat produced by said heat source and transmitting a portion of the heatreceived by thermal conduction; a second heat conducting elementseparated from and at a distance from the first heat conducting element,said second heat conducting element being in contact with said perfumedsubstance; a third heat conducting element connected to the first heatconducting element and to the second heat conducting element, said thirdheat conducting element communicating a portion of the heat transmittedby the first heat conducting element to the second heat conductingelement by thermal conduction; the first and third heat conductingelements each having an outside surface, and at least one of the firstand third heat conducting elements being optionally thermally insulatedover at least a portion of its outside surface; and the perfumedsubstance receiving only heat received from the heat source by the firstheat conducting element and transmitted by thermal conduction by saidfirst heat conducting element to the third heat conducting element andthen by said third heat conducting element to the second heat conductingelement.